Wrist Surgery Threatens Juan Martin Del Potro's Season

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

(May 5, 2010) Juan Martin Del Potro will most likely miss the French Open and Wimbledon and could be sidelined for several months after undergoing right wrist surgery yesterday.

The reigning US Open champion underwent surgery on his troublesome right wrist that has sidelined him since his five-set loss to Marin Cilic in the Australian Open fourth round last January.

Del Potro, who underwent the surgery in Rochester, Minnesota, announced in a letter to the Argentine media there is no definitive time table for his return to tournament tennis.

"The recovery time is prolonged but it depends on many factors that can't be measured today," Del Potro said in the statement. "All this year I've been wanting to avoid surgery with different treatments but evidently the injury is more serious."

The 21-year-old from Tandil became the first Argentine man since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win the US Open when he defeated Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in succession. Del Potro's defense of the US Open title is now in jeopardy and he is expected to miss Argentina's Davis Cup Quarterfinal against Russia in Moscow, July 9-11th. Del Potro helped lead Argentina to the 2008 Davis Cup final in Mar del Plata.

The World No. 5 is the second top 10 player to be sidelined with a wrist injury. Nikolay Davydenko injured his wrist at Indian Wells and has not played since. Davydenko defeated Del Potro in the ATP World Tour Finals at London's O2 Arena last November.

"As you will understand, this is not a happy moment in my life," Del Potro said. "But I'm used to fighting adversity and I have the strength to carry this through."

Bookmark this page to: